The End

I chose The Door's 1967 hit "The End" this week as my blog title. I did so because as the Bottineau Stars and the Ladyjacks both failed to extend their seasons and the 19U hockey state tournament signified the completion of their season, it was indeed the end of winter sports for the 2010-11 season.

This weekend I covered the 19U state tournament held in Bottineau for three days of ladies hockey. I also had the privilege of covering one of the best girls basketball games I've ever seen as the Dakota College at Bottineau Ladyjacks came up just short of Nationals last Saturday.

It will be a bit more work on other things for me for the next couple weeks until spring begins to spring. I can't wait until the snow melts and I can hit the links.

Here are my pictures from the past week:

Ladyjacks sophomore Shannon Smith goes strong to the hoop last Saturday against North Platte.

Smith lays in another in a 69-68 loss in the District F championship game in Bottineau.

Freshman Jordan Allard puts up a shot in the first half last Saturday.

DCB fans await the outcome of a free-throw during the first half.

Allard drives in the lane during the first half.

Sophomore Haley Mindt barrels to the hoop in the second half.

Excited fans cheer during the second half last Saturday.

Sophomore Kate Helgeson is stripped as she tries to go to the hoop.

Lady Knight's guard Destini Lewis argues with a ref after being called for a foul.

Mindt tries to weave through defenders in the second half.

Fans try to make a North Platte player miss during a second half free throw attempt.

Mindt falls to the court after the Ladyjacks heartbreaking loss.

The Bottineau Avalanche get hyped up before their game against Fargo 14U last Friday.

Senior Taryn Thorsell makes a save in the first period of the first round of the 19U state tournament in Bottineau.

Bottineau's Ashley Blue dekes out the Fargo goalie en route to a goal in the first period.

Blue attempts a shot in the final period last Friday.

Blue skates the puck past the blue line last Friday.

Bottineau's Karlee McCloud fights with a Lightning defender for control of the puck last Friday.

Bailey Neubauer chases down a loose puck during the 19U state tournament this past weekend.

Thorsell traps a puck along the side of the net in the second period last Sunday in the third place game against Crosby.

Thorsell about to cover a puck in the second period in Sunday's 2-1 win over Crosby in Bottineau.

Bottineau Head Coach Curt Getzlaff  barks instructions at his players during the final period last Sunday.